Heart Failure

Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump as much blood as the body requires. This ineffective pumping can lead to enlargement of the heart as the myocardium works harder pump the same amount of blood. Heart failure may be caused by defects in the myocardium, such as an a heart attack infarct, or due to structural issues such as severe heart valve regurgitation. Heart failure can be divided into HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), and HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The disease is further divided into four New York Heart Association (NYHA) classes. Stage IV heart failure is when the heart is completely failing and requires a heart transplant or hemodynamic support from a left ventricular assist device (LVAD).

RSS icon
Abbott centrimag life support system

Abbott life support system gains 2 new FDA clearances aimed at providing long-term relief

Certain uses of the CentriMag acute circulatory support system were previously limited to six hours, but the FDA has now cleared long-term treatment so that clinicians have more time to provide high-quality care. 

Thumbnail

American College of Cardiology shares new HFpEF recommendations as cases continue to rise

HFpEF now accounts for a majority of heart failure cases, highlighting the importance of ensuring both primary care providers and dedicated heart teams know as much about this topic as possible. 

cardiologist doctor physician patient black diverse hypertension

NSAID use, even for just 2 weeks, increases heart failure risk among patients with type 2 diabetes

The link between NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and heart failure was especially strong among patients 80 years old and older. For patients 65 years old and younger, on the other hand, no such link was identified. 

Thumbnail

FDA announces third recall of 2023 for troubled heart devices

This latest recall is due to a heightened risk that the devices will stop working with no warning. There have been 42 customer complaints reported so far. 

Obesity Paradox Body Mass Index

New research debunks the ‘obesity paradox’

Using waist-to-height ratio instead of body mass index (BMI) eliminates the oft-debated "advantage" of being overweight or obese with a heart condition.

NASA astronaut Kate Rubins conducts research for the Effect of Microgravity on Drug Responses Using Engineered Heart Tissues (Cardinal Heart) investigation onboard the International Space Station, one of several cardiovascular experiments on the ISS in recent years. Two more cardiac experiements launched to the ISS in March 2023. NASA Image

Heart tissue heads to space for research on aging and impact of long spaceflights

These experiments, performed with help from NASA, are simply out of this world. 

CVRx Barostim illustration

CVRx, Abbott share long-term heart failure data at THT 2023

CVRx and Abbott used the second annual THT conference as an opportunity to present updated data on their signature heart failure solutions.

FDA announces new Class I recall of troubled heart devices

The recall includes approximately 2,300 devices distributed to customers prior to July 24, 2017. There have been 44 complaints about this issue so far.

Displaying 161 - 168 of 1270

Around the web

Health Imaging
Use of AI opportunistic screening in CT for cardiovascular disease

Ron Blankstein, MD, professor of radiology, Harvard Medical School, explains the use of artificial intelligence to detect heart disease in non-cardiac CT exams.

Health Imaging
New imaging protocols proposed to curb rise of cardiovascular infections

Eleven medical societies have signed on to a consensus statement aimed at standardizing imaging for suspected cardiovascular infections.